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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sevvarali Thottathile

From Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Uma Ramanan, Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaanaanaenae…..thanaanaa…..thaanaanaanaa….Thaanaanaenae... thanaaaa... thaanaanaanaa...
Female
Sevvarali thottaththilae unna nenachchuThinking of you in the red oleander garden
Thaedikkittu paaduthaiyyaa intha manasuSearching for you, this heart sings, my dear
Akkam pakkam yaarumillae aalunga aravamillaThere is no one around, nor any sound of people
Suththum muththum paakkayilae thudippum adanguthillaLooking all around, my heart's fluttering doesn't subside
Female
Sevvarali thottaththilae unna nenachchuThinking of you in the red oleander garden
Thaedikkittu paaduthaiyyaa intha manasuSearching for you, this heart sings, my dear
Male
Kottukira aruviyilae kulikkira kuruvigalaeOh sparrows bathing in the gushing waterfall
Pattudambu nanaiyaiyilae pasikkuthu manasinilaeAs your silky body gets drenched, a hunger arises in the heart
Ponnudamba paakkaiyilae bodhaiyum theeravillaGazing at the golden body, the intoxication never fades
Annamae…ae….Oh swan-like maiden...
Female
Vekkamathu ungalukkillaYou have no shyness
Vekkam maranthaa pombala illaWithout shyness, a woman is incomplete
Aasaiya solla nenachchenI wanted to express my desire
Sollaamaththaan vittaenaeYet I left it unsaid
Female
Sevvarali thottaththilae unna nenachchuThinking of you in the red oleander garden
Thaedikkittu paaduthaiyyaa intha manasuSearching for you, this heart sings, my dear
Male
Ailaesaa…..ailaesaa…Ailaesaa... ailaesaa...
Chorus :Hoyaiyaa hoyaiyaaChorus: Hoyaiyaa hoyaiyaa
Male :Ailaesaa…..ailaesaa…Male: Ailaesaa... ailaesaa...
Chorus :Hoyaiyaa hoyaiyaaChorus: Hoyaiyaa hoyaiyaa
Male
Aarum alai oyaathammaa aasai adhu thaeyaathammaaThe river waves never cease, and desire never wears away, my dear
Vaadapattu ninnaalammaa vaasam patta poovaattamShe stood like a fragrant flower dressed in silk
Manasula kondaattam malarura sendaattamCelebration in the heart, bouncing like a blossoming flower bouquet
Aarum alai oyaathammaa aasai adhu thaeyaathammaaThe river waves never cease, and desire never wears away, my dear
Female
Onnukkonnu oravirunthaaIf there is a bond between us
Nenukkoru sogamirukkumThere will be a sweet pain in the chest
Sonthaththilae palamirunthaaIf there is strength in the relationship
Sorkkaththilum idamirukkumThere will be a place even in heaven
Unnaivida yaarumilla otturavu thevaiyillaThere is no one besides you, no other relationship is needed
Ennaiyya…..aa….My beloved...
Male
Ennamo solla nenachchenI wanted to say something
Enna thottathum solla maranthaenWhen you touched me, I forgot what to say
Enna enna ennamirukkoWhatever thoughts I may have
Ellaaththilum needhaanae….In everything, it is only you...
Female
Sevvarali thottaththilae unna nenachchuThinking of you in the red oleander garden
Male :HaanMale: Haan
Female :Thaedikkittu paaduthaiyyaa intha manasuFemale: Searching for you, this heart sings, my dear
Male
Akkam pakkam yaarumillae aalunga aravamillaThere is no one around, nor any sound of people
Suththum muththum paakkayilae thudippum adanguthillaLooking all around, my heart's fluttering doesn't subside
Male
Sevvarali thottaththilae unna nenachchuThinking of you in the red oleander garden
Thaedikkittu paaduthaiyyaa intha manasu…Searching for you, this heart sings, my dear...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sevvarali Thottaththilae from the film Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate (1983) is a romantic folk melody written by Gangai Amaran. The song portrays the romantic longings and playful interaction between two lovers in the privacy of a red oleander garden. Through evocative rural imagery, the song expresses how love creates a sweet restlessness and heightened emotion when the lovers are together in solitude. Using nature metaphors—such as birds bathing in waterfalls, restless river waves, and fresh flowers—the lyrics emphasize the purity and depth of their emotional bond. The song captures the delicate balance between coy shyness and irresistible romantic attraction.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaivazhi / Rhyming Alliteration (Anaphora)

Akkam pakkam yaarumillae aalunga aravamilla

The repetition of the initial consonant/vowel sound 'A' in 'Akkam', 'pakkam', 'aalunga', and 'aravamilla' creates a natural folk rhythm.

Uvamai / Simile

Vaadapattu ninnaalammaa vaasam patta poovaattam

The heroine's beauty and presence are compared to a fresh, fragrant flower in silk ('vaasam patta poovaattam').

Irattai Kilavi / Echoic Phrase

Suththum muththum paakkayilae thudippum adanguthilla

'Suththum muththum' is an echoic word pair used in Tamil folk poetry to convey looking around repeatedly or continuously.

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Trivia

Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate (1983) is a Tamil film directed by R. Selvaraj. The song features lyrics by Gangai Amaran, showcasing his iconic rural lyricism that weaves nature, local flavor, and folk romance seamlessly into movie songs.

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